Hamper lid fastening mechanism



July9, 1935. MATTHEWS ET AL 2,007,579

HAMPER LID FASTENING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 19, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W ATTRNEY v July 9, 1935. H. MATTHEWS ET AL 2,907,579

HAMPER LID FASTENING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 19, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 11v VENTORS $2040 /74 TTHEWS d m A TTOR/VE July 9, 1935. H. MATTHEWS ET AL HAMPER LID FASTENING MECHANISM Filed se t. 19, 1954 s Sheets-Sheet 3 QN'TN 11v VEN TORS #49010 MATT/#7445 JAMES firmer I/VAE/YT/ES B Y {OM/APO Aer/mes Patented July 9, 1935 HAMPER LID FASTENING MECHANISM HaroldMatthews', James Henry Warntjes, Ed-

ward Arthurs,- and William Oarl.'Wilkinson, Calipatria, Calif., assignors of one-fourthto San Diego Fruit and Produce Company, San

. Diego; Calif., a corporation of California Application September 19, 1934, Serial No. 744,688,

v I 11 Claims. (Cl.14093) Our invention relates to hamper lidfaste'ning mechanisms and the objects of our invention are: First, .to provide a-mechanism of this class which is particularly arranged to act upon light.

* wooden hamperaxsuch as used-in packing green peasiwhreinthe 'lids are previously provided withsecuringstaplesdisposed so as to-be readily forced into the hampers; f

Second, to provide a mechanism of this class which is Jan improvement of our Basket and hamper fastening machine, Patent Number l,9 l4,2 54,"issued January 23, 1934;

Third, to provide a mechanism of this class wherein the hamper lid andvhamper are held in fixed relation to the mechanism and. to each other during the stapling operation; there being incorporated a novel staple engaging arrangement; "Fourth, to 'providea mechanism of this class wherein the lidding operationsmay begin immediately upon positioning the hamper and lid relative to "each other and is accomplished with a single rapid movement;

Fifth, :to provide a mechanism of this class which incorporates a novellyj arranged ejecting means operable automatically immediately upon action of the staple engaging arrangement whereby the lidding and ejecting operation is accomplished with particular rapidity;

*Sixth,' to provide a mechanism of this class while rapid in its action adequately supports the relatively frail hamper and lid to prevent any crushing thereof or damage to the contents; and Seventh; to provide on thewhole a 'novelly constructecl hamper lid fastening mechanism which issimple and compact of construction, proportional to its functions, durable, efficient in its action, andwhich will not readily deteriorate'or getout-of order.

With the above and other objectsin viewas may appear hereinafter, reference is made to'the accompanying'drawings wherein similar characters of reference denote similar parts and portions; q In the drawings: Figure 1 is a partially side elevational, partially sectional view of our hamper lid fastening mechanism with its support and operating rod shownfragmentarily and the various parts in the positions assumed upon completing the stapling operation; Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof through 2-2 of Figure ,3 with parts and portions in elevation and arranged in the,

positions assumed before the stapling operation; Figure 3 is aflpartially plan, partially sectional view thereof taken through 33 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is aplan view ofv the ejector operating means; Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a hamper holding fingerv taken through 55 of 'FigureB; and Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a hamper guide taken through 6-5 of Figure 3. i i

The mechanism here illustrated'ismountedi cooperative relation with a universally adjust able hamper supporting means such as that illustrated in the aforementioned patent issued to ourselves. From a suitable base;'not shown, extends a post I at the upper end of which is a forwardly directed arm laterminating in a downwardly directed tubular stem lb. The lower end of the stem lb carries a flange lc.

A plate 2 is rigidly suspended from the flange in spaced relation therewith by'means of lugs 2a and suitable bolts. The plate 2 carries a centered boss 2b which has a bore therethrough. The boss 2b receives a shaft 3 which extends upwardly through the stem lb and through a sleeve Id at the upper end thereof. The lower end of the shaft 3 carries an ejector disk 4 which sets into a recess formed in the under side of the plate 2 so as to be flush therewith; The under side of the plate 2 is dished upwardly to form-a concavity which allows the hamper lid, de'signated'L, to

assume a convex form. The stem is normally held in its upper position with the disk 4 as its recess by means of a spring '5 and a collar 6.

The periphery of the plate 2 is provided with a plurality of depending, equally spaced brackets 1-. Each bracket carries a guide bar 8 which is supported therefrom by laterally extending pins 9 which extend through the bracket andare provided with heads for limiting radially inward movement of the guide bar. The guide bars are turned outwardly at theirlower extremities to engage the upper edge of a hamper H and guide the same into centered relation with the plate 2 and the lid L carried thereby. Y

The centered boss 2?) of the plate 2 journals a flat'disk II which lies contiguous to theupper side'of the plate 2. The disk is connected by a series of links l2 to a plurality of radially shiftable finger members l3, the 'fingermembers being' mounted .in radially extending guides or sleeves 2c disposedaround the margin of the plate stapling operation as will be brought out hereinafter.

One of the fingers I3 is provided with a handle I3b which is adapted to be engaged by the operator to move the several fingers radially outwardly, simultaneously, this movement being accomplished by reason of the links I2 and disk I I. Return movement is accomplished by a spring I4 attached to one of the links I2 and anchored to the plate 2.

The several fingers I3 are preferably grouped in pairs, each pair being disposed between a pair of brackets 1. Between the members of each pair of fingers I3 there is hinged to the plate 2 a stapling lever I5. Each stapling lever includes a. broad stapling arm I 5a which is shiftable from an outwardly directed relationship with the plate to a slightly inwardly inclined and depending 'posi-' tion paralleling the sides of the hamper Has shown in Figures 2 and 1 respectively. A second arm lib'extends upwardly and is connected by an adjustable connecting rod I6 to a collar I! which is slidably mounted on the stem Ib. k

. Above the hinged connections with the rods I6 the collar is provided with trunnions I'Ia, which journal a yoke I8a provided at an end of an'opcrating lever I8. The lever I8 extends toward and around the post I and is fulcrumed therefrom by means of a compensating link I9 and bracket bearing 20. Beyond the fulcrum of the lever I8 is a short arm I8b to the end of which is attached aspring 2I shown fragmentarily. At ;a point forwardly of the post I, that is, between the post I and stem Ib the lever I8 is connected to an operating rod 22, shown fragmentarily. The operating rod is connected to any suitable control means, not shown.

The laterally extending arm Ia. supports by means of a bracket bearing 23 a rocker arm 24. One'end of the rocker arm 24 is hinged to a rod 25 which extends downwardly through the arm Ia and is slidably and pivotably secured by any suitable means to the lever' I8. The rod 25 is provided with a stop 25a at its extended end to limit its sliding connection with the lever I8. A spring. 26 surrounds the rod 25 and extends "between its upper end and the lever I8.

' The rocker arm is preferably double; that is, it comprises two parallel. disposed portions. These extend forwardly of the fulcrum point of the rocker arm and embrace the upper end of the shaft 3. The portions of the rocker arm receive therebetween a slide member 21 which is guided in longitudinally shiftable relation with the rocker arm. The slide member is provided with an aperture-21a adapted to receive the end of the shaft 3. The slide member is also provided with a slot 21b which fits over a wedge shaped cam member28 extending upwardly from the arm lb. The operating side of the cam faces the shaft 3 and is so arranged that upward movement of this end of the rocker arm permits rearward shifting of the slide member while downward movement causes forward shifting of the slide-member. -A spring 29 holds the slide member in engagement with the cam 28.

Our mechanism is adapted to act upon the conventional green pea hamper and its lid or any other light wooden hamper. However, the lid is first provided with staples S each of which has been previously secured therein by one end leaving a protruding portion SI with a depending prong $2, the prong being inturned slightly. One stapling lever is provided for each staple.

Our mechanism is operated as follows:

A lid L equipped with the above described staples S is positioned adjacent the plate 2 and held there by the fingers I3. Thereupon the mechanism is lowered as a unit or a hamper is raised until the upper end is guided by the guide bars 8 into juxtaposition with the lid. The operating rod 22 is then pulled downwardly causing the collar IT to descend and rotatethe stapling arms I5a of the stapling levers inwardly to engage the several staples S and force the prongs S2 into the hamper. The dished form of the plate 2 allows the lid to bow upwardly from the pressure of the contents of the hamper. It should be noted that the prongs I3a of the fingers I3 fit between the lid and inside of the hamper to hold the hamper as the prongs are pressed therein.

During downward movement of the collar II, the end of the rocker arm 24 bearing the slide 21 is raised until the slide member clears the shaft} whereupon the spring 28 pulls the aperture 21a out of registery with the stem'. Upon subsequent upward movement of the collar I1, and shifting of the stapling levers clear of the hamper, the spring 28 causes the slide member to bear down upon the shaft 3 and cause the disk 4 to force the hamper from the mechanism. Whereupon, the aperture 21a again registers with the shaft and the disk 4 again returns to its retracted position. It should be noted that the spring 26 is made sufiiciently strong to overcome the action of the spring 5 and friction between the hamper and guide bars 8. 7 r

We claim: I

1. In a mechanism for fastening lids on hampers wherein the lids have been previously equipped with securing devices, a lid backing plate, lid holding means arranged around the periphery of said plate, a hamper guiding means for directing a hamper into juxtaposition 'with the lid retained by said holding means, elements extending fromthe backing plate and engageable with said securing devices, operating means for said elements, an ejector including an operating end mounted in said backing plate, and an instrumentality operatively connecting the ejector with said operating means.

2. A lid fastening mechanism operable on hamper lids wherein the lids have been previously equipped with securing devices and the lid fastening mechanism includes a lid backing plate and lid holding means arranged therearound, the combination with said backing plate of an ejecting plunger, and link and lever means operatively connecting said plunger with said lid fastening mechanism.

3. A lid fastening mechanism operable on hamper lids wherein the lids have been previously equipped with securing devices and the lid fastening mechanism includes a lid backlng'plate and lid holding means arranged therearound, the combination with said backing'plate of an ejecting plunger, yieldable means normally holding said plunger in a retracted position, operating means for said plunger, an instrumentality for disengaging said operating means from said plunger, a device for resetting said means into engagement with said plunger, and connecting means for operatively associating said plunger with said lid fastening mechanism to eject upon completion of the fastening operation.

4. In a mechanism for fastening lids on hampers wherein the j lids have been previously equipped with securing devices, a lid holding means, a hamper guiding means for directing a hamper into juxtaposition with a lid retained in said lid holding means, elements arranged in proximity with said lid holding means to'engage said securing devices, means for simultaneously operating said elements, an ejecting plunger'engageable with the lid to force the same from said lid holding means, yieldable means normally holding said plunger in a retracted position, operating means for said phmger, an instrumentality for disengaging said operating means from said plunger, a devicefor resetting said means into engagement with said plunger, and connecting means for operatively associating said plunger with said element operating means to eject the lid upon action of said elements.

5. In a mechanism for fastening lids on hampers wherein the lids have been previously equipped with securing devices, a lid backing plate, lid holding means arranged around the periphery of said plate, a hamper guiding means for directing a hamper into juxtaposition with the lid retained by said holding means, elements extending from the backing plate and engageable with said securing devices, operating means for said elements, an ejecting plunger mounted in said backing plate, yieldable means normally holding said plunger in aretracted position, op-

erating means for said plunger, an instru mentality for disengaging said operating means from said plunger, a device for resetting said means into engagement with said plunger, and connecting means for operatively associating said plunger with said element operating means to eject the lid upon action of said elements.

6. In a mechanism for fastening lids on hampers wherein the lids have been previously equipped with securing devices, a frame, a lid backing member suspended therefrom, an ejecting plunger including ahead centered in said backing member and a shaft guided in said frame, yieldable means normally holding said plunger in a retracted position, operating means for said plunger, an instrumentality for disengaging said operating means from said plunger, and a device for resetting said means into engagement with said lunger.

7. In a mechanism for .fastening lids on hampers wherein the lids have been previously equipped with securing devices, a frame, a lid backing member suspended therefrom, an ejecting plunger including a head centered in said backing member and a' shaft guided in said frame, yieldable means 'normally holding said plunger in a retracted position, operating means for said plunger, an instrumentality for disengaging said operating means from said lunger, a device for resetting said means into engagement with said plunger, a lid holding means carried by said backing member, a hamper guide means, elements engageable with said securing devices, operating means therefor, and connecting means coactively associating the two operating means, I

8. In a mechanism for fastening lids on hampers wherein the lids have been previously equipped with staples positioned for engagement with a hamper, a supporting stem, a lid backing member suspended therefrom, a slide member carried by the stem, stapling members hinged to said lid backing. member, links connecting the a lid and its staples in position for engagement by said stapling members, and a hamper guide means for directing a hamper into juxtaposition with the lid.

10. In a mechanism for fastening lids on hampers wherein the lids have been previously equipped with staples positioned for engagement with a hamper, a supporting stem, a lid backing member suspended therefrom, a slide member carried by the stem, stapling members hinged tosaid lid backing member, links connecting the stapling members to said slide member to cause simultaneous operation thereof, operating means for said slide member, a plurality of lid holding fingers arranged around the periphery of said lid backing member to retain a lid and its staples in position for engagement by said stapling members, and a hamper guide means for directing a hamper into juxtaposition with the lid, said fingers positioned to enter said hamper and reinforce the same to withstand the action of said stapling members.

11. In a mechanism for fastening lids on hampers wherein the lids have been previously equipped with staples positioned for engagement with a hamper, a supporting stem, a lid backing member suspended therefrom, a slide member carried by the stem, stapling members hinged to said lid backing member, links connecting the stapling members to said slide member to cause simultaneous operation thereof, operating means for said slide member, a plurality of lid holding fingers arranged around the periphery of said lid backing member to retain a lid and its staples in position for engagement by said stapling members, a hamper guide means for directing a hamper into juxtaposition with the lid, said fingers positioned to enter said hamper and reinforce the same to withstand the action of said stapling members, an ejecting plunger including a head centered in said backing member and a shaft guided by said stem, yieldable means normally holding said plunger in a retracted position, operating means for said plunger, an instrumentality for disengaging said operating means from said plunger, a device for resetting said means into engagement with said plunger, and connecting means coactively associating the two operating means whereby the ejecting plunger is actuated upon completion of the stapling operation.

WILLIAM CARL WILKINSON. EDWARD ARTHURS.

JAMES H. WARNTJES. HAROLD MATTHEWS. 

